kennedy



July 8,; `i930.

E. J. KENNEDY 1,770,274.

FARE Box sheets-sheen 1 TML 26 26@ Filed Dec. 20, 1927 lr l I i! mi lh 69 l/ lllllllllllh @LM Y July 8, 1930. E. 1 KENNEDY 1,770,274

FARE BOX Filed Dec', 2o, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 2 I RNE I INVENTOR E July A8, 1930. I E. J. KENNEDY 1,770,274

FARE' BOX l Filed Deo. 20, 1927 4 Sheets-Shen 3 EWE; 7 AM., 22 0 l Il@ 1i y y 413 26C Q0 50 M W @l 4Z 1 e 1|! 4/6 C2 Z" (32 y (7? I. 415 l! 6 a E. J. KENNEDY 1,770,274

FARE BOX Filed Dec. 2o, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4 266. f www- INVEIVVI1 0R Patented July 8, 1930 EDwann'J. KENNEDY, or BaooxLYN, NEW Yom:

FARE BOX .Applicationled December 20, 1927. Serial No. 241,427@

This invention relates to fare boxes of the type employed for streetk cars and wherein, when a coin is de osited` in the fare box it, in passing throug the box, causes a register or other apparatus located either adjacent to, or at a distance from, the-fare box to be actuated. Thepresent invention has for its principal object to improve upon the construction and operation .of such fare boxes so as to render the o eration Athereof more certain and to provi e a more sturdy and durable construction.

A further object of the invention is to improve upon the mechanism whereby coins of different denominations cause one or more y successive operations of the register to be effected, according to the denomination of the coin inserted in the coin slot. 'As to certain features herein illustrated the present application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier copendin'gy application Serial No. '614,030 sied J an. 20, 1923. e

The above and other objects of the invention will a pear more fully from the following more etailed description and kb reference to the laccompanying drawings orming a part hereof, wherein I have illustrated by way of example, a satisfactory construction al exampleof a fare box embodying the principles of my invention and wherein Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the fare box showing the positlon of the parts just after a single fare coin is inserted; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same parts after vthe main actuating mechanism has started to function; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detailof a portion of the mechanismshown in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating the manner in which the device functions when a double fare coin passes through the fare box; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7-7 and 8-8 .15 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a section of theupper portion of the box showing adoublefare coin just after insertion of the same in the c oin slot, and Fig. 10 is a section similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the position of the parts at the beginning of the movement thereof after a double fare coin is inserted and also illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which the fare box is connected electrically witha 'fare' register. i

As shown in the drawings the fare vbox comprises an outer metal casing 2O of any suitable configuration having the front wall 21 thereof removable to afford easy accessto the mechanism inclosed in the box. At its top the boxk 20 is provided with a coin slot 22 into which the coins are adapted to be inserted. Located withinthe box is a solenoid 23 the core 2 4 of which has pivotally connected thereto one end of a connecting link The other end of the. connecting link pivotally Vconnected to a coin propelling member which inthe example illustrated is inthe form of a bell crank 26 having a laterally extending boss 26 by which the member is pivotally supported, within the casing upon a pivot stud 27 which is fixed to and projects laterally from a supporting plate 28, the latter being preferably located immediately below the coin slot 22 and abutting against the bosses 20:L formed integrally with the casing 2O.A Any suitable means such as thescrews 29, which engage in threaded holes of the bosses 2()a are provided for securing the supporting plate 28 in position and Aalso for securing a coin stop member 30 and a coin guideway member 31 in place. lBoth of the latter members are also in the form of plates, the coin guideway member 31 being in contacting engagement with the front wall of the supporting plate (see 4L) and as shown in Fig. Bextending over a portion of the plate 28 adjacent to tl e upper right'handcorner thereof` The coin stop member 30, as shown, is held in spaced relationship to the plate 28 by a washer 32 and a .90 pair of spacing plates 33, 34, a screw 35 passes throughthe plates 28, 30, 3]., 33 and Safor holding the plates 3l, 33 and 34 against ro tation.

The coin guideway member 31 is located in vertical alignment with the coin slot 22 and vis provided with a coin guideway 3l which is open at the top for communicating with said coin slot, is closed, as at 31", at the bottom thereof and which, 'for a purpose to be described, at a point adjacent to said bot'- tom is reduced in width as indicated by the reference character 31C.

The upper arm oi the coin propelling member 26 projects through the space provided between the supporting plate 28 and the coin stop plate 30 and terminates in a hook shaped extension Q6" which projects across the casing below the coin slot alongside of the coin guideway 31a. A torsion spring 36 is coiled about the boss 26 of the coin propelling meinber 26 and serves to hold said member normally in the position shown in Fig. l ot the drawings. Pivotally secured upon a small pin 37 lined to the extension 26h is a latch 38, the outer free end of which (see Fig. 7) projects through a slot 39 in the extension 26h for engagement with a coin dropped in the coin slot; a torsion spring 40 being provided to hold the outer free end of the latch projected through said slot. Pivotally mounted upon a pin 41 which projects upwardly from a small flange 42 provided at the upper right hand end ot the supporting plate 28 is a lever 43 which extends across the easing at the top thereof in back of the supporting plate 28. J ust below the coin slot the plate 28 is provided with an elongated aperture or slot 44 into which projects a latch 45 pivotally mounted in a yoke 46 secured to the lever 43. The lever 43 is normally urged by means of a torsion spring 47 in a direction such t-hat the latch 45 will be projected through the slot 44 and beyond the front face of the supporting plate 28. The free end 43 of the lever 43 extends laterally and projects through a slot 43b in the plate Q8 and said end 43ft is normally held to project across the path of morement ot the end of the extension 26h of the coin propelling member :26. The face or' the extension 43fL is formed to provide an inclined cam surface so that when the end of the extension 26h of the coin propelling member engages with said inclined cam surface, the le ver 43 will be moved against the action el the spring 47 to withdraw the latch 45 through the slot 44 and out ot' the path of a coin inserted into the coin slot.

An electrical contact pin 48 is located below the coin slot and forms, with one edge of the coin guidway 31' of the plate 3l, a coin switch, the plate 3l being grounded as will presently be more fully described. The pin 48 (see Figs. 6 and 8) is lined within an insulating block 49 secured to the rear face of the supporting plate 28 and said contact pin is connected by means oi the connecting wire 50 (see l0) with a contact pin 5l located at the bottom orn the easing below the solenoid 23. rfhe lower terminal end of the conducting wire 50 is in conducting relationship with a second conducting wire 52 which leads from the contact pin 5l to the lower end of the solenoid coil. The pin 5l is secured to an insulating block 53 (see Fig. 5) which block also carries a second contact pin 54, the latter being in conducting relationship through a connecting plate 55 and screw 56 with the casing 20 of the fare box. The casing Q() is connected to ground through the contact plug 57 and conducting wire 58 (see Fig. 10). It will be notedby referring to Fig. 10 that the pins 5l and 54 are arranged in horizontal alignment and form the members of a pair of cooperating contacts which are placed in conducting relationship through the intermediary of a switch contact plate or disk 59 which is loosely mounted upon a bolt 60 secured to the core 24 of the selenoid and projecting downwardly i'rom the latter. Spaced above the contacts 51 and 54 is another pair of similarly arranged contacts 6l, 62, the contact 62 being grounded to the casing by the plate 55 and screw 56 and the Contact 6l being connected by the conducting wire 63 with a second contact plug 64 secured to the bottom of the casing. The contacts 61, 62 are placed in conducting relationship by means of a second switch plate 65 also loosely mounted upon the bolt 60. The'plate 65 is held in engagement with a suitable stop 66 provided upon the bolt 60 by means of an expansion spring 67, while the contact plate 59 is similarly held against the head of bolt 60 by ay similar spring 68. A third contact plug 69 is also secured to the bottom of the easing 20 and is connected by a conducting wire 69 with the upper end ofthe solenoid coil; it will be understood that the contact plugs 64, 69 are insulated from the casing.

Pivotally mounted upon a stud 70 (see Fig. 6) which is secured to and projects upwardly from a knee bracket 71 fastened upon the rear face ofthe supporting plate 28, is a combined coin ejecting, coin holding and latch member 72. This member is provided at one end thereof (see Figs. 4 and 8) with a pair of hook-like extremities 73, 74 which are spaced vertically from each other and project respectively through the slots 75, 76 (see Figs. l, 9 and l0) formed in the supporting plate 28. The coin stop member 30 is also provided with a slot 77 in alignment with the slot 76 and into which the hook-like extension 74 of the member 7 2 projects. At its other end the member 7 2 is provided with a third hook-like extremity 78 and said member is normally held by means of a torsion spring 79 in a position such that the third extremity 78 is normally projected through the slot 80 in the supportinor plate 28 and into the path of movement of'.7 the upper arm of the coin propelling member 26.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the coin propelling member 26 is normally held in the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing in which position it will be noted that the extremity of the extension 26h of said member is in engagement with the side wall of the casing 20 which thus Serves to limit the upward, or counter-clockwise movement of said member. vMovement ofthe member 26 in the opposite direction is limited by means ofy member 26 and into the coin guideway 31,

the latter pin serving to prevent the coin from being projected through the coin guideway too rapidly when the coin propelling member is actuated. The extension 26b of the coin propelling member has its outer face engaged by a roller 26c suitably secured f to the supporting plate 28 or to the top wall of the casing 20. This roller bears against the extension 26b and prevents canting of the member 26 and thus serves to hold the extension spaced laterally the proper distance from the supporting plate 28 and coin guideway 31.

' A coiny chute 84 is secured to the front face of the supporting` plate 28, projects laterally therefrom7 extends at an angle below the coin stop yplate l and coin guideway 31a and serves to direct coins of the double fare denomination, after they have passed through the coin guideway, into the space 85 defined between the inclined plate l86 and a glass window 87, the latter being suitably inserted into the side wall of the casing 20 of the fare box. The space 85 is closed at the bottom thereof by a pivoted shutter 88 which is normally held by the spring 89 to close the bottom end of the coin chute, 84, 85. Immediately below the window 87 the side wall of the casing is provided with an opening 90 through which the Vcoins may be removed from the coin box after they have passed through the actuating mechanism. A second coin chute 84a is secured to the outer face of the coin stop member 30 and serves to direct coins of the single fare denomination into the space 85 after said coins are ejected, in a manner presently to be described, from the coin guideway 3P.

As hereinbefore pointed out this particular type of fare box is employed for actuating other mechanism, such,ffor example, as a fare register which may be located'at a considerable distance away from the fare box. For the purpose of the present application I have shownthe fare box connected with an electrically operated fare register of the type shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,099,215 granted to me March 17, 1914. As shown., the second con- 4 tact plug 64 is connected by means of a conducting wire 91 with one end of a solenoid 92, while the third contact plug 69 isi connected by a conducting wire 93 to a pivoted switch arm 94 adapted to make contact with a contact member l95. The latter is connected by means of a conducting wire 96 with the other end of the solenoid 92. vThe construction andk operation of the electrically operated fare register have been fully described in thevsaid patent and the constructional details thereof form no part of the present invention. Therefore it will not be necessary for the purpose of the presentapplication to give a detailed description of such construction and operation. It will be suiiicient to state thatl when the solenoid 92 is energized to draw the core 97 thereof downwardly, the members which connect said core with the movable switch arm 94 are actuated to break the contact between the switch arm 'and contact member 95 and to interrupt the circuit passing through the solenoid 92. It lwill be understood that when the solenoid is energized, it causes a fare to be registered by means of suitable mechanism connectedwith the farefrecorder.

kThe manner in which the device of the present invention operates is as follows: Let it be assumed that the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1 in which position it will be noted thatthe extremity of the extension 26" of the coin propelling member has engaged, with the lateral extension 43sL of the lever 43 and has moved said lever 43 against the action of the spring 47 to cause the latch to be withdrawn slightly into the slot 44. If now a coin is dropped into the coin slot it will rest upon the contact pin 48 and upper end of the lower wall of the coin guidewayl, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawing.L An electric circuit is therefore completed through the coin to cause the energizationof the solenoid, the circuit completedI being, contact plug 69, conducting wire 69a, solenoid 23, wire 52, wire 50, contact pin 48, coin, plate 31 to the grounded casing 20. At this time it will be noted that both the contact switch' plates 59, 65 are out of engagement with theirrespective pairs of contact pins. The energizing of the solenoid causes its core 24 to be pulled down, which through the link 25 causes the coin propelling member to be rotated in a clockwise direction. After the latter begins its movement and the extremity of the extension 26b thereof moves out of engagement with the end 43a of the lever 43, said lever is moved by the torsion spring 47 to bring the latch or pawl 46 with a resilient pressure against the coin as indicated in Fig. 7 As the member 26 continues its movement, the extension 26b thereof moving from left to right (as the parts are shown in the drawings) the inner free end of the latch 38 engages with the left hand edge of the coin. `lNhen this occurs the solenoid core has been moved downwards sufficiently to bring the contact switch plate 59 in contact with the Contact pins 51. 54, as shown in Fig. 10, thus causing the electric circuit to the solenoid to be completed through the casing 20, sci-ei 56, plate 55, pin 54, contact plate 59, pin 5l and conducting wire 52, therefore as the member 26 continues its movement and the latch 38 moves the coin out of engagement with' the contact pin 48 the solenoid remains energized and the movement of the member 26 is not interrupted. Continued movement of said member causes the coin to be removed from its conducting position and into the coin guideway 31a and also brings the switch contact plate 65 into engagement with its pair of contact pins 6l, 62, the parts now being in the position shown in Fig. 2. The electric circuit is then completed from casing 20 to screw 56, plat-e 55, Contact pin 62. switch con tact plate 65, contact pin 6l, conducting wire 63, contact plug 64, wire 91, solenoid 92, wire 96, switch contact 95, switch arm 94, wire 93, contact plug 69, wire 69, solenoid 23, wire 52, pin 5l, switch contact plate 59 and pin 54 back to plate and casing 20. The solenoid 92 thus being energized the mechanism connected with its armature is actuated to cause the fare register to record a fare, after which the switch 94, 95 is automatically thrown open and the circuit through both solenoids 23 and 93 is thereby interrupted. The switch 94, 95 is not opened however until the armatures of the solenoids have been moved to their innermost limits of travel.

If the coin inserted in the coin slot is a single fare coin, for example, a nickel, it is stopped in its passage through the coin guideway 3la by the restricted portion 31'2 thereof and in the position shown in Fig. 2.

As the upper arm of the coin propelling member moves from right to left an amount such as indicated in Fig. l0 the left hand edge thereof moves out of engagement with the hooked extremity 78 of the member 72 thereby permitting the spring 79 to move said member 72 and cause the hooked extremity 73 to be withdrawn through its slot 75, out of the coin guideway 31CL thereby permitting the coin to reach the position shown in Fig. 2. After the circuit is broken at the switch 94, 95 the armature 24 and member 26 are moved upwardly by the spring 36 to return the parts to their initial position. During this movenient the hooked extremity 78 of the member 72 which has been moved into the path of movement of the member 26 is engaged by the edge of the latter, thereby causing the member 72 to be rotated against the action of the spring 79 thus causing the hooked eX- tremities 73 and 74 to be projected forwardly into the guideway 31a. lVhen this occurs, if the coin has been a single fare coin, ithas been held in the guideway 3l in the position shown in Fig. 2 directly in frontof the hooked end 73 and as the latter is moved forwardly as just described it strikes the coin and throws it forwardly out of the guideway and on to the coin chute 84a by which itis directed to the space 85 and shutter 88.

Under these circumstances the solenoid armature and member 26 return to the initial position shown in Fig. l, with the switch contact plates 59 and 65 in the open circuit position and consequently all parts will remain at rest until another coin is inserted.

If a. double fare coin is inserted the mechanism is arranged to cause the fare register to be operated twice. This is accomplished as follows The initial movement of the parts is the same as for the single fare coin, the coin completing the circuit to the solenoid 23 and the circuit to the solenoid 92 being completed as heretofore described. After the double fare coin has however been moved into the coin guideway 31 it will, because of its smaller diameter', move into the reduced portion 31C of the guideway and come to rest on the bottom 3l" thereof in front of the hooked end 74 of the member 72. lVhen the armature 24 and member 26 move upwardly and the latter causes the member 72 to move against the action of spring 79, the hooked end 74 strikes the rear face of the coin, carries it laterally out of the guideway and clamps itagainst the coin stop plate 30, as shown in Fig. 4. lVith the coin held in such position it acts mechanically to prevent the return of member 72 to its initial position and thereby holds said member, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the hooked end 78 is main` tained in the path of movement of the member 26. Consequently after the actuation of the fare register, the member 26 on its return movement will strike the hook 78 and be prevented thereby from moving beyond the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position of the parts both the switch plates 59 and are in engagement with their respective contact pins and as soon as the switch 94, 95 is automatically closed by the upward movement of the armature 97 and the parts associated therewith, the solenoids 23 and 92 are again energized thereby again moving the member 26 downwardly and causing the fare register' to be operated a second time. As the member 26 again moves downwardly its right hand edge engages the hooked end 7 4 thereby moving it out of contact with the coin and permitting the latter to drop 0n to the coin chute 84. After the parts perform their second downward movement they are then caused to return to their initial position b v the spring 36.

The latch or pawl member 45 acts as a follower to hold the coin in position to be engaged by the paWl or latch 38 and thereby insure that it will be moved into the coin guideway 31a.

If two thin dimes should be dropped into the coin slot at the same time. the member 45 also acts to prevent more than one coin at a time from being moved into the guideway, the small hook on the end of the latch (see Fig. 7) holding the rear coin While the coin is moved by the latch 38 out of thev ydropping into contactwith`thecontact pin atany time except when theiparts are in `the initial positionl shown .in Fig'. 1, for as soon Vas the member 26 moves butaslight distance it is ont ofengagement with theendlla of the lever 43 and the latter will be moved by the 'spring' 47 toA bring the top face of the circuit closing position.) If at such time a .second coin has been inserted it will' rest upon theotop of the latch 45 and be held thereby until themember 26 returns toits` initiall position. i f

It will be understood that the' invention is not limited to the constructional. details of the example selected for illustration herein but that manyk changes,V variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. I claim: f

1. AL device of the character described in-y cluding a fare box havingl a coin slot, a solenoid, a coin .propelling member and opera` tive connections therefrom to said solenoid, a coin switch located below saidslot for closing a circuit to said solenoid to produce an initial operation of said solenoid and said coin propelling member during which 'the coin is moved out of engagement rwith said coin switch, an external electricallyoperated mechanism and a pair of switches operatively associated with said solenoid and coin propelling member to operate in timed relationship with said coin propelling member to cause the electric circuit through said solenoid to be maintained after said coin is moved out of engagement with said coin switch and to cause a circuit to be completed to said external mechanism, and means cooperating with an inserted coin of larger denomination to maintain said coin propelling member in a position such that said pair of switches will cause a second operation of said solenoid and said external mechanism to be performed.

2. In a fare box having a coin slot, a coin chute in communication with said coin slot, a coin propelling member to move said coin through said coin chute and means movable into and out of the coin chute for ejecting a coin of lesser denomination from the coin chute after said coin propelling member has passed a predetermined point in its cycle of operation and for retaining a'coin of larger denomination in said coin chute until said coin propelling member has performed one complete cycle and has returned substantially to said predetermined point.

3. In a fare box, a coin propelling member,

` a solenoid operatively assoc1ated with said coin propelling member, a coin Switch located beneathk said coin slot for causin an electric circuit to be established to said so enoid when ya coin engageswith said switch thereby to produce an -initial movement of said coin propelling member, switch means operatively associated with saidsolenoid and coin propelling member kto maintain a circuit through said vsolenoid after saidinitial movement of said coin propelling member and means 'cooperating lwith said coin propelling member toprevent the return thereof to its initial position after a coin of higher denomination is inserted into said coin slot.

4. In a fare box, a coin propelling member,

a solenoid operatively associated with said coin propelling member, a coin switch located circuit to be lestablished to said solenoid when a coinv engages with said switch thereby to produce an initial movement of said coin propelling member, switch means `operatively associated with said solenoid and' coin propelling member to maintain a circuit through through said solenoid after said initial movement of said` coin propelling member and means cooperating withsaid coin propelling kmember to prevent the return thereof to its initial positlon' after a coin of higher denomination Ais inserted into said coinvslot, said last named means comprisinga lever which eny gages said coin and'whenso engaged cooper-v ates mechanically with the lcoin propelling member to prevent itsoreturn to initial position. y l Y 5. 'In a fare box having a coinvslota solenoid, a coin propelling member operatively associated with said solenoid, a coin switch located below ysaid coin slot, a coin guideway having an entrance openingadjacen't to said coin switch, coinengagingmeans carried by said coin propelling vmember for movinga coin from said coin switch to said coin guideway, and means for preventing a second com kcoin from said coin switch to ksaid coin guideway, and means for preventing a second coin inserted intqthe coin slot from engaging spa-rd coin switch during the movement of said com propelling .pmember, said last named means including a spring-pressed follower to insure theengagement of said coin engaging means with a coin and meansto prevent more than one coin at a time from being carried by said beneath` said coin slot for causing an-electric coin propelling member from said coin switch to said coin guideway.

7. In a fare box having a coin slot, a solenoid, an electric switch located below said coin slot, a coin guideway having an opening adjacent to said coin switch, a coin propelling member' operatively associated with said solenoid, means for normally urging said coin propelling member to an initial position and holding it in such position, said coin propelling member being adapted to be moved by said solenoid from said initial position to an extreme position oi movement and a pair of coin engaging members mounted for movement into said coin guideway, and co-operating with said coin propelling member to kcause one ot said members to engage a coin of lesser denomination and eject it from said guideway as said coin propelling member is moving from its extreme position and the other of said members being adapted to engage a coin ci' higher denomination and hold it against movement until said coin propelling member has performed two successive movements to said extreme position.

8. In a fare bof; having a coin slot, and a coin guideway, a coin propelling member for moving a coin inserted into said slot to and through said guideway, said guideway terminating in a restricted portion into which a coin of a denite diameter may pass and having means for preventing the entry of a coin of larger diameter into said restricted portion, means for causing said coin propelling member to be actuated automatically to propel a coin through said guideway, means mounted for movement into said guideway for ejecting therei'rom the larger diameter coin and for engaging the smaller diameter coin' and holding it and-means cooperating with said last named means to eilect automatically a second operation of said coin propelling member when the coin of smaller diameter is so held. l

9. A device of the character described including a fare box, having a coin slot, a coin guideway adjacent to said slot, a coin switch below said slot, a solenoid, a coin propelling member operatively associated with said solenoid, said coin switch being' adapted, when a coin inserted into said slot engages therewith, to produce an initial movement of said member for moving said coin into said guideway, a switch operatively associated with said member and solenoid for maintaining an electric circuit through the latter after the coin is moved by said member out of engagement with said switch, means for interrupting the current to said solenoid when said member is moved to an extreme position, and means for causing a second operation of said coin propelling' member to be performed automatically when a coin having a double tare value is inserted into said :tare box.

l0. A device of the character described including a fare box, having a coin slot, a coin guideway adjacent to said slot, a coin switch below said slot, a solenoid, a coin propelling member operatively associated with said so` lenoid, said coin switch being adapted, when.

a coin inserted into said slot engages therewith, to produce an initial movement of said member for moving said coin into said guideway, a switch operatively associated with said member and solenoid for maintaining an electric circuit through the latter after the coin is moved by said member out of engagement with said switch, means for interrupting the current to said solenoid when said member is moved to an extreme position, and a pair of members mounted for movement into said guideway, one of said members being adapted to engage a single fare coin and eject it from said guideway, the other of said members being adapted to engage a double fare coin, and means associated with said other member to stop the movement of said coin propelling member towards its initial posit-ion and thereby prevent said last named switch from opening until said solenoid has produced a second operation of said coin propelling member to its extreme position.

EDWARD J. KENNEDY. 

